Wallace has a pretty stout Insurance sponsorship deal.... that puts him in for sure !
Allmendinger now free of Red Bull, will be announcing his new sponsorship for 2009 and is using the car as part of the launch. 
I just figured out his last name.... it's dirty ....

all  men  ding  er.....    kidding !!

Putting new Drivers in now is a really smart thing to do as you can see their talents in the real workspace and judge their abilities for future.

In short, its easier and cheaper to test a Driver now then to wait until Daytona or absorb the cost of private testing, which is a mess to control when Nascar has the say on what dates and tracks are eligible for testing. 

Either way, again its back to money, and in this case it actually works out for a win-win situation for both the Team and the Driver.

I thought that ride was Sorensons next year so why do they need to audition these two. Didn't know Evernham was going to a four car team. I think he should get his team up to speed before he gets to the size of the big teams. Four cars too soon at DEI didn't do them any favors.

Carp had it out with his crew chief after qualifying last weekend, it's all on his website, perhaps had something to do with it???

There's been talk of a full time ride in the Nationwide Series next year, and perhaps a Cup ride with the Wood Bros.???

In regards to Evernham going to 4 teams, the comments on sirius prior to Patrick being released was they wanted to go to 4 teams assuming they could find sponsorship.  There has been no confirmation on what number Reed is going to drive next year.  I wonder if that's cause they are worried he won't be able to make the field on his own in the first 5 races next year so they'll do a flip the numbers with Elliott most likely so that Reed is locked in and Elliott has to race his way in.  Prior to the weekend the 4th car was Patrick's if the found sponsors for it.

Wallace's Geico sponsorship is moving up to full time cup next year so he is out of a sponsor on his nationwide car next year.  So I don't think that is how Mike got the car for this weekend.

Mike got it due to talent, and A.J due to talent. Yes, I kno that Patrick has talent, though look at both of these drivers. Mike is a proven vetran while A.J has had some good runs - therefore that equals why, fair or not. I definately think it's fair as the deal was for Patrick to run till the end of the year - well, looks like they broke off that deal. Also, they did say they'd keep Patrick if they could find sponsorship but I guess since that's not working at they want then he's old news to them. Though it's not fair once again as how can they find sponsorship if he isn't in the car? Why not give him a chance to get a good run or two to get that sponsorship?

Though we're only be in this situation with AJ due to what Red Bull Racing has done with Scott Speed in the #84 car for next year. Personally, that is blown right out of its roots as Scott hasn't even had a full year in the Nationwide Series and should have a full year before going up to Cup. Just 'cause he's Mr. ARCA King righ now doesn't mean anything when you get up to Cup - we've seen Nationwide Champs not do well in Cup. And anyways, how could they even begin over there to kick AJ out when he's been qualifying for races, has the car in the top 35 and has had some good runs? Sure, Brian has definately been better in spots thou you gotta give AJ credit for being a second-year driver at a team that wasn't strong at all last year.